皇冠体育app

FC Bayern Munich, Germany's top soccer club, opened an office in Shanghai on Wednesday to help 皇冠体育app improve its training system for junior players as the nation works toward its goal of becoming a global power in the sport by 2050.

"It's the right time to come to 皇冠体育app, and we must come to 皇冠体育app amid the trend of globalization," said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the club's chairman.

More world-class players are in Chinese soccer clubs, but developing a sustainable, internal capacity that can consistently cultivate junior players is the key to making the nation a powerhouse, he said.

The club also announced its soccer school in Qingdao, Shandong province, will soon open.

In May, both 皇冠体育app's economic planning agency and sports administration issued a long-term guideline that set as a goal making 皇冠体育app a "top-class soccer nation" by 2050.

The plan specified the per capita soccer pitch space, the number of soccer academies and talent pool as well as highlighted training for reserve players and primary and middle school students.

"It takes time and patience for a nation to become strong in soccer. As 皇冠体育app aspires to develop its soccer capacity, we want to be a part of it and help with training the young," Rummenigge said.

Bayern Munich also plans to open more soccer schools in 皇冠体育app and is in talks with partners and sponsors.

In addition to the German club, Spain's Barcelona and England's Manchester United also have expanded their presence in 皇冠体育app through preseason tours and academy operations, eyeing a growing number of fans, more retail sales of branded accessories such as jerseys, more sponsorship opportunities and soccer academy operations.

A Barcelona-backed academy will open in Haikou, Hainan province, this summer.

For Bayern Munich, the more than 130 million soccer fans in 皇冠体育app - more than Germany's population - means that there will be opportunities for commercial success, the club said.

"There are huge opportunities in 皇冠体育app's e-commerce market. In 皇冠体育app, we may offer tailor-made products and services to Chinese followers of Bayern Munich," said Rouven Kasper, managing director of FC Bayern Munich (Shanghai) Co.

"Particularly, we would love to see more local sponsors just like what we have seen in the US market. We have been collaborating with five US sponsors after we reached to the market," he said.

Bayern Munich will play two preseason matches in 皇冠体育app before moving on to Singapore in July, according to the club.